Tempted by Trouble

chapter EIGHTEEN


Sitting behind Matt’s desk, Carolina stared at the preliminary laboratory results.

Each sample taken from one of the diseased cows generated a slew of DNA markers that were then entered into a spreadsheet and with cross comparisons based upon the control samples they’d collected from the bull and dams. She stared at the graph, sensing the answer stared back at her, yet she couldn’t with absolute certainty make a call as to how related the respiratory disease was in terms of genetics. She rocked back and forth in the leather swivel chair.

Matt needed answers, not an educated guess. She picked up her cellphone and autodialed him just as he came through the doorway.

“Hey, what’s up?” The sound of his voice made her pulse quicken.

“I’m reviewing the lab results and wondered … ”

“Any clues to why the cattle are dying?”

“That’s why I called. I didn’t know if you thought calling in an expert who could give you definitive answers … um, might be best or not?”

“I need answers. We already spoke about that possibility. Do you know someone?”

She inhaled and looked out the window. She’d hoped he would refuse her. “I know of someone. He’s a pathologist. Not local. Do you know anyone around here?”

He paused, “Uh, no. But you already know that. What’s got you slowing down?”

“I’m not. I want to contact the best person in the field of pathological genetics. I wanted to make certain that Texas University didn’t already have someone on staff, just in case you forgot.”

“Carolina, just call whoever you know. This isn’t the time to get cold feet. I’ve got to have answers. Another cow died. Her calf will probably also die. I don’t have any more time to waste. I thought we covered this issue when we first met.” His words were uttered in that strained tone she’d heard when he was about to explode.

“Yes. I remember clearly.” He was right. Why was she becoming so clingy? This wasn’t about them, this was about his ranch. She inhaled, putting aside her emotions. All she had to do was make one small call. Staring at him didn’t make the call any easier to dial. “Fine, I’ll call Dr. Welch.”

She didn’t miss the slight narrowing of his eyes but he didn’t relent. “Good. Then you understand, I don’t care what it costs. I don’t care who you consult. Just do it. By this evening I expect to have something besides lab reports sitting on my desk. I’m tired of being in the dark, spinning my wheels. I hired you to get me answers, now I need you to do your job like a professional.”

He left her sitting inside his office as his words struck her harder than any hoof stomp ever had. Brutal and forceful, the conversation awoke her from the dream she’d entertained. This was a short-term assignment. Nothing long-term. He brought her here to do a job. First and foremost. If he didn’t want more, well she was the one who’d demanded no complications. Dream all she wanted, she’d created the rules of this fantasy.

Stop playing the fool, wise up and wake up. Her fingers shook as she dialed the number from memory. A tiny part of her prayed Jeff wouldn’t answer or be gone on vacation. In all this time, she’d not once contemplated dialing this telephone number.

“Well, strike me down. Gracious Lord,” He spoke with the finesse of the truly wicked. Her stomach pitched and rolled. “What do I owe this pleasure to, my dear? Tell me, Caromia.”

“Jeff, this call is professional, straight down the line. I’ve got a client who could use your help.”

“And I’m the one you called.” He chuckled. “I knew I’d hear from you eventually.”

“Let’s check the baggage. You’re one of the best pathologists and I’m calling for your opinion. Not a favor. I need you to look over some genetically detailed lab analysis. Do you have time or can you recommend an associate? I need answers ASAP. This one can’t sit around and wait.”

“Sounds important. Sure. What the hell? For you, I’ll switch gears.” He went from jerk to professional physician. Probably his ego got the better of him; but then again, if he was true to form, he’d switch back to jerk without notice.

She let go of the breath she held. Maybe he could just take a peek at the data and then this awful experience would almost be over. As if it could get much worse.

“Great. I’ll send over the reports. We’re looking at a bovine respiratory disease. Cattle keep dying and I think there’s something up with the breeding. None of the cows appear weak, there’s no physical components prior to onset of illness that would indicate any of the cows should expire. Then there’s the coincidence that only one lineage from a hybrid bull and cow combination seem to be prone to this disease. Before I can make a recommendation, I need to pinpoint the specific reason behind the breeding error. Otherwise, the ranch more than likely will continue with past breeding practices.”

“Why? Why would breeders continue to breed animals that are subject to mortal illness?”

“These cattle bring in top dollar. They’re prime. The ranch isn’t exactly losing money, but there’s a reputation to protect.”

“Send me the reports. I’m actually in route with a layover in Chicago. I’ll take a look and get back with you. I’m at the same email address.”

“I’m sending them right now.”

“Oh, Carolina?” he asked. “No matter what you think you still turn me on. I don’t mind house calls, precious.” Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Jerk. No surprise. “Jeff, I’ll send you the lab sampling analysis. Please issue a report and send me your bill. I appreciate your time.”

She already had her email up and she typed into the address Jeff’s name at the University of Miami. She uploaded the lab files and gave him instructions on where to send his hardcopy reports.

Her finger hovered over the mouse. All she had to do was click and send. She hated the thought of forging a connection to Jeff. Matt never said anything outright, but he’d asked enough about her past experience with pointed questions about previous clients, indicating his interest was clearly her veterinarian ability to deal with cattle conditions.

This notion that the lab results would come back without questions was ludicrous. She had fooled herself into thinking that just maybe the sampling results wouldn’t require her to contact Jeff Welch. In the past, she’d called without reservation. Jeff was tops in his field in being able to pinpoint genetic maladies, but that was before their fallout.

The award for biggest idiot was hers alone. She’d been stupid to put off locating another pathologist as a resource just in case. Now she had no one in the wings to help her when it mattered most. It was either Evermore Ranch or her pride, and Matt needed her help as a client. She would never bail on him, even if he was using her.

She clicked the “send” icon, and then picked up her buzzing cellphone. “Hello.”

“I was serious about us getting back together. Don’t be like this. I know you’re upset about how things ended. I was in a f*cked-up place. Carolina, I’ve missed you. How about we go over the reports tonight over dinner?”

“What is so difficult to understand about the word no. No, Jeff.”

“You’ve always liked the chase. Isn’t that what this is?”

“Jeff, stop. I’m not going to have dinner with you. That’s impossible.” Crap, she needed his help, not his attention. She wanted to slam the phone down or better yet, tell him to kiss her derriere. She sucked it up. “Jeff, I can’t. I’m still not back in Florida. What happened in the past is water under the bridge. If you could look at the lab results and give me your opinion. Please.” Her fingers dug into the armrest.

“You always played hard to get. I can’t say it doesn’t work in your favor. I’ll do you what you’ve asked, Dr. Rodriguez. Then, if I play nice, will you consider a drink? For old times?”

When hell was full of glaciers. “Business first. Don’t forget I’ve already been bitten once. Not again.”

“Sweetness, you are so cold. Ouch. You’re not a brick wall, at least not to me. I’ll be in touch, my love.” He hung up and she swallowed the taste of sour bitterness. She leaned over the desk, staring at the reports.

“Sounds like quite a call.” Matt stood with his arms crossed in the doorway. “Who were you talking to, Carolina?”

“Dr. Welch. You’ve gotten your pathologist. Just as you wanted.” She had no intention of being caught behind his desk.

“Sounds like you know him.” His brow arched dangerously.

The hairs at the top of her neck stood at attention. “I did — I mean, I do. You know everything there’s to know about him from my references. I’m being a professional.” She twisted her fingers, wincing at her floundering. Could she possibly sound any guiltier? This moment would be better served if she kept silent.

“You just snap your fingers and men are too happy to bend over backwards.”

“Matt, I dated him. It’s over. I didn’t want to call him but you needed these samples looked at. He’ll do that. Jeff is the best in his field. You should be happy.”

A spark shone in the narrowing of his dark eyes and the twist of his lips into a wry smile.

“Who says I’m not overjoyed?”

He looked damn close to exploding. His flinty eyes kept her frozen to the spot. His flaring nostrils didn’t help.

“I bet you’ll have an answer by tonight. Then I think my work will be done here. Right on schedule.” She swallowed hard.

He removed his work gloves and threw them onto the desk. He channeled his fingers through his hair, staring at her. “I didn’t come here to argue with you, even though you seem all too ready to have a throw-down. Hell, Carolina, what am I supposed to do? F*ck you twenty-four/seven? I’ve got work to do.”

“Who do you think you are? Why would you presume that I even want to occupy your bed every minute of the day?”

It took four strides and Matt was on her. He stared down into her face, his arms took hold of her and she came to him. She was unwilling, but she didn’t resist. His mouth was a whisper beyond her lips. “If I stick my hand down between your legs, are you telling me you’re not wet?”

She glanced away. He knew her. She was hot and wet. It was impossible for her body to do anything but respond greedily. She wanted him.

He pushed the length of his hard erection into her abdomen. “I only say that because you’ve got me going, too. I’m f*cking raring to go at the sound of your voice. Shoot, just thinking about you has my dick hard enough to hammer nails.”

“I don’t know why.” She didn’t want to moisten her parched lips. Looking up into his eyes set her on fire. She sucked in her bottom lip.

“Christ.” Matt snarled. “I might not be able to communicate adequately with my mouth, but I do know one thing we both speak.” He swung her around in his arms, and lifted her skirt hem. “Baby, we both know how to f*ck each other loud and clear.”

He had her panties down around her ankles and his zipper sounded. Bending her over his desk, he pushed her feet into a wide stance. She arched up her bottom. She pushed the reports across his desk and lowered herself.

He held back, not slamming into her. She felt exposed, her skirt hiked up over her hips. His hands were between her legs. His tongue assaulted her with quick darts, then he ran his tongue from front to back along her slit. He rubbed his finger, swirling patterns and dipped halfway into her p-ssy. Her muscles tightened at his teasing.

He ran his finger all the way back against her ass. “God, that is one place I want you. I let you off easy last night. You still owe me a spanking and this.” He rubbed against her, pressed his finger around her ass. He distracted her and then she realized he was at her opening. His hands braced her hips and then he moved, a little bit at a time.

“You’re so tight. Maybe from so much sex. I’m going to come in a heartbeat.” He pushed into her, little by little, until his thickness filled her. She tilted her hips up, giving him more access and he struck her across her sweet spot. He was inside her, coaxing her along with relaxed thrusts. Her p-ssy began to throb, and she clenched her muscles around his shaft.

“I’m seeing stars. Carolina, do that again. Oh, baby.” He thrust backwards and then drove into her.

She bit her lip to keep from moaning. He was fully seated inside her. She was nearly at the point of climaxing so intensely that she shivered. This time there was no struggle, just Matt f*cking her slowly and making her splinter apart under him. He came with her, his shudder no less intense. He took her without proving he was in control with brute force, but because she without a doubt let him.

He kissed her neck. “You always smell incredible. Let me take you out tonight. Dinner and dancing.” He didn’t move, but waited for her response. As if she had a way to deny him anything.

“Yes. That would be fun,” she whispered, wondering if this is how he said adios.

• • •

Cory was waiting for her on the front porch. “Oh my God. This is going to be so much fun.” Matt’s sister grabbed her by the arm and brought her into the house.

“Hey, Carolina,” Sarah said. “Would you care for something to drink?”

“I’m good. Thank you.”

“Mama, stop. We’ll be down in a jiff. C’mon. My room’s upstairs. I rarely have any girlfriends who come over. They’re off at college.” She hollered as she dashed up the stairs.

“Mama says I have to turn twenty before they’ll let me loose on a college campus. I finished high school a year ahead. And for what? It was a trick, I think. I drove my parents crazy. They thought every phone call was going to be from the school asking me to leave. Can you imagine?”

“You’ve got fantastic lung capacity.” Carolina didn’t know what else to say.

“Right. I do. I swim. Or did swim. Freestyle. It helped so much.”

“Cory, what should I wear to dinner?”

“Matt said he was taking you dancing. That means the Silver Streak or Big Sugar’s. Nothing more than a jean skirt and boots. What you’ll need is something short and something fancy.” Cory’s hand moved to mid-thigh.

Carolina’ pulled her hand down toward her knee. “How about here?”

“Nothing doing. You’ve got the legs, Carolina. Why not torture my brother just a smidge? It’ll be fun.”

She smiled. Anytime Matt and she had the inkling of conflict, he set things right. She just couldn’t imagine how he’d find the time or place to square off as he normally did, with his cock, tongue, or fingers between her legs. He was right. Naked and f*cking, they were perfectly matched. Out in the world, they tended to come at each other from varying angles with different agendas.

“Don’t think too much on this. Just pick something and we’ll get you fixed up.”

Carolina eyes must have registered shock. Never had she seen so many colors and textures in the form of clothing, shoes, accessories. Anything a woman could think of was inside Cory’s closet. She came from a long line of savvy consumers. Her cousins were nothing short of industrial shoppers, but Cory put them all to shame. “How did you acquire all of this?”

“You’ve heard of Amazon?”

“Once or twice. Yes.”

“Well, I’ve got my own associates page. Girl, I sell to all my friends and their families, and I earn enough to keep me buying. I plan on majoring in finance. I don’t play when I shop. I deal in discounts. You need something, just call me. I’ll hook you up.”

“What do you suggest for tonight?”

“You’re a size four or six?”

“Six on the bottom. Sometimes larger on the top.”

“Right. I see you’re a curvy little thing.” Cory started taking hangers off the rack. “Hold out your arms.”

“That’ll do. Really. I just need a skirt or dress.”

“Boots. Cowboy boots.” Cory folded out a step stool. “Ariat, Dingo, Justin’s … Turquoise, blood red, ostrich.”

She stepped down with four shoeboxes. “Go put your pile on the bed and come back for these.” She set them down on the island in the middle of her dressing closet. When Carolina returned she had hats, belts, and tops in neat piles.

After trying on clothes for an hour. Cory and she finally agreed on a tight stonewashed jean skirt with intricately placed patches. A pair of Justin’s boots, rhinestone belt, matching earrings and a button-down gingham shirt in turquoise to match the boots. An aqua camisole so she could leave the shirt unbuttoned for the most part.

Another hour and she was dressed, primped and had on enough make-up to look like someone else entirely. Her hair was done in soft waves, sprayed, and she wore a white cowboy hat. Cory went downstairs ahead of her to get her camera set up. She sat in front of the mirror wondering who the heck had time to prepare for dates in Texas and hold down a career.

She inhaled, stepping in front of the dressing mirror. Her natural inclination was to tug downward on the hem of the skirt. She took out her phone and checked her email. She chewed the corner of her mouth. Nothing from Jeff. Matt was less than pleased that he was using her former boyfriend but he had said little after their office meeting.

He left, returning to the field to get his section of fence fixed. She remained in the office and answered emails and looked for another pathologist to use. Never would she contact Jeff again. By the afternoon, she had several interested vets not only from Florida, but as far away as Seattle. She spent some time updating her resume and included, almost tearfully, her consultation work at Evermore, talking about the experience in past tense as if it were nothing but a memory.

After spending the next four hours reading and reviewing and tracing gene combinations, she believed she’d located the specific gene combination. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the genetic program that would assist her and that’s why Jeff’s involvement was imperative.

Her only consolation was doing a decent job, one that meant a solution for Evermore and Matt. With Jeff’s analysis, she’d have confirmation that there was indeed a link to the breeding of the bull from the F.C. Ranch. She suspected when the F.C. bull’s sperm was injected into any dam related to the Evermore’s prize cows from Kirby cattle lines, the result would be tantamount to cattle death for the offspring calf. Some genetic glitch. A strange gene pool resulted. No one could guess these two cattle lines caused the suppression of the immune system when just the right gene combination occurred. Nothing corrupt, not plots against the ranch, just dumb luck.

She rolled her eyes. Jeff still hadn’t sent word. She wished she had the complete answer to give Matt and be finished with this part of the job. Then at least, they’d have this one last night together. This evening she’d need every one of her self-talks to muster the courage to look him in the eye without giving in to sorrow or tears. Going to the door, she looked back at Cory’s room. It wasn’t unlike her cousins, just a little more jam-packed.

On the landing of the stairs, her gaze flittered and focused upon Matt. He did a double take and his heated stare reminded her of the first time they’d stared across the aisle at the church. Matt beamed a cocky grin at her and the sun couldn’t have been brighter. Her heart tripped. She gripped the banister, not wanting to do the same.

“How do, Mr. McLemore?”

His head tipped, his gaze went from her face downward, then up again. “Where’s the rest of your outfit?”

“I trust you like what you see?”

His eyes flashed. “I’m not up to sharing you with the rest of the world.”

“I heard that, Matt. Carolina’s wearing the same skirt every other woman will be wearing, so put a sock in it. This is the style. Don’t make her feel less than perfect because you’re some modern version of a cave man.”

He snorted, “What about a sweater?”

“Oh good grief, it’s nearly ninety degrees outside.” Cory winked at Carolina. “You’re a knockout and he knows his behavior sucks so bad, he might lose you before the water is poured. Brother, the Karma Café is open for business. You are in so deep.”

His face hardened, all signs pointed to Matt about to unleash. He sighed and laughed, surprising her. He rolled his eyes and held out his arm. More than surprising. “I don’t mean to be overbearing.”